HAPPY NEW YEAR! This year,
HAPPY NEW YEAR! This year, I'm staying quietly at home for New Year's Eve. I needed something to force me to reflect on the past year, so here's a little survey (I haven't done one of these in forever!):
1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Studied abroad! Bought a drink at a bar (oh, Europe, I miss you). Got a (real) job. Quit a job. Put together a section of the Technique, wrote an editorial. Went to a haunted house. Rode a bicycle around campus. Played Balderdash. Watched an episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. And plenty of other things.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember what my New Year's resolutions were. So I probably didn't keep them. I'll probably make some this year, and forget them, too.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No. Not yet.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit?
Heh! Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, England, Scotland, and Spain (my favorite).
6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
Inner peace, a sense of direction.
7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
This year has been kind of a blur. There are a lot of days from study abroad that I think I'll remember for a long time, and a lot of overwhelming days from this semester, too.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
All the work I put into the paper, every week--it really was the dominating force in my life this semester.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being motivated to try and figure out my life (and I'm still not). Being too busy with school to do a lot of things I wanted to do. And, on a more petty note, not being able to make my robot work for digital design lab. ;P
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No. I'm a relatively healthy person. :)
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My digital camera, capturer of memories.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Oh, I have no idea. Let's celebrate, anyway.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Some celebrities, most politicians, some people I see just walking around every day. It's hard to think specifics, probably because I'm pretty slow to judge people, and also because maybe I've become somewhat desensitized to bad behavior.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Almost everything I earned from co-oping in the spring went to paying for study abroad. But it was worth it.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Traveling, seeing places I've never seen before.
16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
All the songs you've been hearing on the countdowns on TV and the radio this year: Outkast's "Hey Ya!", Justin Timberlake's "Rock Your Body" (played at every club we went to this summer), Coldplay's "Clocks," etc. I know, I'm lame. And in another five years I won't even remember when those songs came out.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter. I think I'm getting fatter every year. ;)
iii. richer or poorer? About the same, money-wise. Experiences-wise, richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Made time for friends, definitely. Also, gone to more concerts.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating and being inefficient, stressing out, being pessimistic.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it at home, not being very productive but still enjoying myself nevertheless. This year I did most of the Christmas-spiriting around my house: I put up the lights and the tree, and bought presents for my family members. On Christmas Day (when we finally got to opening the presents at 2-ish in the afternoon because that's when my sister finally woke up), I didn't really get any real presents myself, but I did get to watch my family open theirs, which was, as cheesy as it sounds, rewarding. :) I also got to party with old Milton friends and play a game of frisbee.
21. Did you fall in love in 2003?
I was already in love. And I still am. I did fall in love with Barcelona, though, and traveling. And Pirates of the Caribbean and Return of the King, but, you know...
22. How many one-night stands?
Hehe, none. Not even during those drunken nights in Europe (just kidding!).
23. What was your favorite TV program?
I didn't have time for much TV, but Queer Eye was fun. I also watched my usual share of Food Network and Discovery Channel, especially Good Eats and Surprise By Design. And my sister has made me appreciate the beauty of Cowboy Bebop. :)
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. It takes a lot to make me hate someone.
25. What was the best book you read?
The Silmarillion, by Tolkien. It made me appreciate the complex mythology behind Lord of the Rings. I didn't read many books this year, though, so I'm drawing from a very limited pool here.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
A friend introduced me to Howie Day. Also, the discovery that my sister has a burned copy of the complete Bach Cello Suites played by Yo-Yo Ma was pretty great, too.
27. What did you want and get?
A lot of things. The first thing that comes to mind is good grades this semester, but that's only because it's the most recent. Also, I'm getting a LCD monitor soon, too, yay!
28. What did you want and not get?
See #6.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Do I even have to answer this one?
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to Stonehenge on my 20th birthday, but at the time, no one knew that it was my birthday, until I told Bryan on the bus leaving Stonehenge late in the afternoon. But the next day, a bunch of people surprised me with a cake during class and then we sort of celebrated that night with some movies and ice cream and cider. :)
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
See #6, again.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
In the spring, while I was co-oping, I made the effort to look semi-professional. During the summer, during study abroad, I dressed for comfort. This semester, I've just been a slob--busy-ness has kept me from trying to look nice.
33. What kept you sane?
Having to do the paper every week (although sometimes that made me insane, too. I guess it was more the conversations and dynamic between the people I work with that kept me sane, rather than the paper itself). Alan. My residents.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Kiera Knightly--she's so beautiful, and lucky, too!
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I've been pretty apathetic about politics this year. But I was glad to hear about the Massachusetts ruling on gay unions.
36. Who did you miss?
All the people I didn't get to see much this year, my family especially.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Some of my freshman residents, who really have made being a PL a pleasure.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:
I don't have to hurry my education. It's something that I forget a lot because of all the people I know who are graduating early.